Deep vein thrombosis, also known as DVT, refers to a serious type of blood clot that develops in the deep venous system. When left untreated, DVT can lead to painful symptoms, along with a life-threatening condition called pulmonary embolism (PE).

1. Raising Awareness of DVT and Vein Disease
Did you know that March is national deep vein thrombosis awareness
month? Deep vein thrombosis, also known as DVT, refers to a serious
type of blood clot that develops in the deep venous system. When left
untreated, DVT can lead to painful symptoms, along with a life-
threatening condition called pulmonary embolism (PE).
Below, we discuss why DVT awareness month is important, along with
how to recognize signs of DVT and PE. For additional information, we
recommend consulting a vein specialist.

2. Why Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month Matters
We are raising awareness for deep vein thrombosis because if left
untreated, DVT can lead to serious or even life-threatening
complications. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), as many as 900,000 people are affected by DVT and
PE each year.
Common symptoms of DVT include:
 Pain or tenderness in your leg
 Swelling around your ankle or calf
 Changes in leg skin color (redness)
 Changes in leg skin temperature (warmth, especially on one side)
If you experience signs of DVT, it is important to seek prompt medical
treatment. In many cases, blood thinners are prescribed. In some cases,
additional medications or procedures may be recommended.
If you are tempted to ignore DVT symptoms, you should be aware that
pulmonary embolism can occur when blood clots in the deep veins of
your legs break off and travel through the bloodstream to your lungs.
This may cause damage to your lung tissue, low oxygen levels in your
blood, damage to your other organs, and, in extreme cases, even death.

3. Common symptoms of pulmonary embolism include:
 Unexplained shortness of breath or rapid breathing
 Chest pain, especially when breathing deeply
 Rapid heartbeat
 Low blood pressure
 Feeling of faintness or fainting
If you experience signs of pulmonary embolism, we recommend calling
911 or heading directly to the nearest emergency room.

4. Risk Factors of DVT
Many people experience symptoms from DVT that resemble varicose
vein symptoms, such as leg pain and swelling, making the condition
difficult to diagnose without an ultrasound. DVT can also occur without
any warning signs or symptoms. This makes it very important to learn
the risk factors of DVT to take preventative measures to decrease your
risk of developing blood clots.
Common DVT risk factors include:
 Being over the age of 60
 Obesity
 Smoking or alcohol consumption
 Family history of blood clots
 Pregnancy or recent childbirth
 Long periods of immobility
 Having vein disease
Vein disease, also known as venous insufficiency, is the underlying
cause of varicose veins and spider veins. Not only can vein disease lead
to enlarged, visible veins on your legs, it can also cause a range of
symptoms such as leg swelling, cramping, itching, and fatigue. The risk
factors for developing vein disease are similar to the above risks of
developing DVT.
During DVT awareness month, we want you to be aware that treating
underlying vein disease can reduce your risk of developing deep vein
thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Making certain lifestyle changes,
such as losing weight, becoming more physically active, and stopping
smoking can help improve your vein health.
To get started, consulting an experienced vein specialist can be
beneficial in determining the best course of action.

5. Increase Your DVT Awareness at USA Vein Clinics
During DVT awareness month, our vein specialists are available to treat
symptomatic vein disease, which can reduce your risk of developing
deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
Our experts use minimally invasive, office-based treatments to close off
blood flow to diseased veins and reroute it to healthy, surrounding
ones. This approach can alleviate painful symptoms while also
improving overall circulation.
Our minimally invasive vein treatments include:
 Sclerotherapy
 Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT)
 ClariVein®
 VenaSeal™ treatment
 Varithena vein treatment
Whether you suffer from varicose veins, spider veins, or venous ulcers,
our clinics treat a variety of venous conditions. You may be surprised to
learn that most of our treatments take less than an hour to perform,
from start to finish. Even better, our patients can leave immediately
afterward and return to most normal activities.

6. In some cases, multiple treatments or methods are necessary to
achieve desired results. One of our experienced vein specialists can give
you a better idea of what to expect during an initial consultation.
We offer treatment in over 100 clinic locations across the country. To
learn more about which type of non-surgical vein treatment would be
best for your individual situation, simply contact us at 888.768.3467 or
schedule an appointment online.